Monthly Archives: December 2015

In what is deemed the strongest El Niño measured in recorded history, humanitarian organizations and government agencies are gearing up their efforts in what may be the most challenging year for global humanitarian operations. The abnormally high temperatures in certain parts of the Pacific Ocean are forcing changes in normal weather patterns, with the impacts

The World Trade Organization (WTO) concludes its 10th Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya today. It is also celebrating its 20th anniversary, along with the accession of Afghanistan and Liberia to the organization. Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade for Kenya, said in her opening statement that “The WTO represents something more

For almost two weeks, leaders from around the world negotiated over a climate deal in Paris. On Saturday, December 12, 2015, 195 countries signed a 31-page legal agreement, now known as the Paris Agreement, setting ambitious goals to limit temperature rises and hold governments accountable for reaching those targets. The agreement intends to cut greenhouse

After news broke out last week of South African President Jacob Zuma’s abrupt decision to replace previous Finance Minster Nhlanhla Nene with new appointee, David van Rooyen, many within the establishment begun echoing concerns following turmoil in currency, credit and equity markets. Bowing to market and political pressures on Monday, Zuma has now appointed his

The United Nations has established the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, to be celebrated on December 9th, with the dual purpose of ensuring people worldwide are aware of this crime and engaged in its prevention, and honoring those

On December 9th, The United Nation Security Council adopted a historical resolution, Resolution 2250, on youth, peace and security. This resolution is the first of its kind to recognize the positive role young people play in building sustainable peace. It urges greater representation by young men and women in the prevention of conflict amid

Last week, the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board recognized the Chinese yuan as one of the world’s elite currencies by approving the yuan for inclusion in its elite basket of reserve currencies, the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket. The SDR is an international reserve asset that was created by the IMF in 1969 to

The 2015 U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP 21), a two-week event ending December 11th, is taking place in Paris. The goal of many of the attendees is to create an agreement with a long-term goal of net zero emissions (producing no more CO2 than what the planet can handle without rising temperatures in the

As China’s president attends the international climate conference in Paris (COP21), Beijing recorded its worst air pollution of the year this past Monday and Tuesday. The smog was so heavy that people can barely see anything from a block away. The tiny poisonous PM 2.5 particles reached as high as 600+ micrograms

India’s economy grew at an annual rate of 7.4 percent in the last three months, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. That being said, India continues to be the fastest growing major economy in the world surpassing China’s 6.9